Antica Pesa
If there’s one telltale sign that there is something special about this Roman classic in Trastevere (the warren-like medieval neighborhood on the west side of the Tiber River), it’s the massive collection of celebrity photos that covers the walls in every hallway, leading past the various dining rooms and out to a vine-covered courtyard. If signature dishes like the cheesy cacio e pepe pasta and roast-pork-and-mozzarella mille-feuille are good enough for all those movie stars, they’re good enough for us.
More Restaurants in Rome
Pierluigi
Roman restaurants rarely focus on fresh fish with any great success. Pierluigi is a notable exception.
Roscioli
A top specialty food-and-wine shop by day, this grotto-like space becomes one of the best spots for traditional Roman cuisine at night.
Emma
Emma specializes in Rome’s signature super-crispy, super-thin crust pizza, as well as such classic local dishes.
Mazzo
Mazzo is known for serving up satisfying, deeply authentic Roman fare that also manages to be creative.
La Pergola
Even if you haven’t come to Rome for ultra-fancy, haute gastronomie, you shouldn’t miss the city’s only Michelin three-star restaurant.
Felice A Testaccio
For a top example of the classic pasta sauces that make Rome so famous, head to Da Felice in the city’s former meat packing neighborhood.
Retrobottega
Whenever a spot becomes the post-work gathering place for chefs and hospitality types, you know it deserves a visit.
Bonci Pizzarium
Tucked away off the northwest corner of the Vatican, this order-at-the-counter, pizza-by-the-slice joint has become a pie pilgrimage site.
Antico Arco
This more than 20-year-old institution manages to be both consistent and delicious, serving up creative and classic Roman cuisine.
